 The Lake County Board will update its strategic plan next
year. This plan serves as a road map for our county government and influences
how we prioritize and invest our resources. Take a look at our
strategic plan and read about the progress we’re making.
As we get ready to update our plan, we want to know what is
important to you. Please submit your thoughts and ideas to make our county even
better through our “Community
Voice” forum. It’s easy to join the conversation by signing in and sharing
your ideas for a better Lake County!
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 As
Lake County and the Lake County Clerk’s Office have been deeply involved in
preparing for what is expected to be a healthy turnout for the Nov. 8 election,
the Courts have interjected a critical new development that may prohibit
in-precinct Election Day registration.
Last
week, the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, responded to a
federal lawsuit that challenged the Illinois law allowing counties with a
population of 100,000 or more to conduct registration (along with voting) in
every precinct polling site on Election Day. In its decision, the Court
ruled that this created a two-tiered system impacting the fundamental right to
vote, favoring those individuals who happen to live in more densely populated
counties. As a result, the Court granted the requested preliminary
injunction, which prohibits in-precinct Election Day registration in counties
with a population in excess of 100,000.
The
Illinois Attorney General’s Office has filed an appeal. At this point, it
is impossible to predict the outcome or the time estimate for a decision.
In the meantime, the Lake County Clerk’s Office assures that voters can
register and vote at all 14 Early Voting locations across the county from now
through Nov. 7 (the day before Election Day) at 7 p.m. Hours and dates vary at
the 14 different locations. See the list.
If
the decision is upheld on appeal and the injunction remains, voters will still
be able to register at the County Clerk’s Office, 18 N. County Street,
Waukegan. If the injunction is removed, voting and registration will
resume as originally planned in all Election Day voting sites on Tuesday, Nov
8.
For
ballot information, voter registration and voting options in the upcoming
election, please visit the County Clerk's Office Nov. 8 General Election web page.
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When voters go to the
polls in November, they will see a proposed amendment to the Illinois State
Constitution on the ballot. The amendment will ask voters if all revenues from
various transportation-related taxes and fees should only be spent on
transportation projects and expenses. If approved, the amendment calls for
putting transportation revenue in a “lockbox” that can only be used for
transportation purposes. This would include highway construction and
repair, mass transit, enforcing traffic laws, and other transportation expenses
such as paying off debt on transportation projects. While protecting against
the diversion of transportation funds for other purposes, the proposed
constitutional amendment does not provide any new capital funding for
transportation in Illinois. It is estimated that Illinois must spend an
additional $43 billion on transportation infrastructure in the next ten years
to bring highways and bridges into good condition. Learn more.
 Hiring
for the Holidays Job Fair is coming
Learn
about seasonal job opportunities in retail, call center and winter maintenance
environments at the Hiring for the Holidays job fair from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30
p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6 at Most Blessed Trinity Parish, 450 Keller Ave.,
Waukegan. Jobseekers should bring resumes and dress professionally. Learn more
Veteran and military job fair planned Oct. 13
A veteran and
military job fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13 at
the James Lovell
Health Care Center, 3001 Green Bay Road, North Chicago. This fair is open to
active duty military, veterans, retirees, reservists, eligible family members
and DoD employees. Learn more
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 Fall is here! Featuring 170 lakes and
rivers, miles of hiking and biking trails and many family attractions, Lake
County is a wonderful place to spend a fall weekend. Check out this list of
upcoming events for ideas on how to spend the perfect
fall weekend.
Win Four Guest Passes to the Lost Paradise
Indoor Waterpark at KeyLime Cove!
Among the county’s fun and exciting attractions is KeyLime Cove Indoor Waterpark Resort. You
could win four guest passes to the Lost Paradise Indoor Waterpark at KeyLime
Cove if you tell us your favorite thing about biking in Lake County, and send a
picture that shows it! Enter by commenting your answer and attaching a picture
on Lake County, IL
Government’s original Facebook contest post. Entries will be accepted
until 11 a.m. Oct. 17.
Take the Des Plaines River Trail Challenge
Travel the entire 31.4 miles of the Des Plaines River Trail (DPRT)
by Nov. 30 and be rewarded. The final section of the DPRT was completed
in 2015 and now spans the length of the county. Help
celebrate this amazing gem by using it. Bike it. Boat it. Walk it or run
it. Or, you can make a donation to help the Forest Preserves keep it
clean and safe. Learn more.
If you’re biking the DPRT Challenge, or enjoy
biking any of the Forest Preserve trails, why not take part in this fun contest? Make
sure to share your Challenge “selfie stop” photos!
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 Forest Preserve News
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Come to Hawkfest
Experience the fall hawk migration and see live raptors at Hawkfest from 1:30
to 4 p.m. Oct. 15 at Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve in Lake Forest. Join official raptor counters as they scan
the skies and share their tips for identification. Help spot migrating raptors,
and visit bird education stations to learn about raptor adaptations, the
amazing world of woodpeckers, and waterfowl identification on Lake Michigan.
The event is free and open to all ages. Learn more. |
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Fall Horizons magazine available online
Horizons is a free quarterly
publication featuring articles on Lake County wildlife, nature
and history, Forest Preserve news, and a calendar of events. In the
fall issue, learn about the Discovery Museum’s move to its new home in Libertyville and our Des
Plaines River Trail Challenge. Read Horizons online, or subscribe to
receive it for free in print form.
Chili
Scramble at Countryside Golf Club
Join this 18-hole tournament that ends with
prizes, chili and drinks on Oct. 30. The game is played in scramble format
on Countryside Golf Club's
traditional course in Mundelein. Shotgun start is 10 a.m. All playing levels
are welcome. Learn
more. |
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 College
students and their parents can get help applying for college financial aid by
attending the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) workshops at
locations across Lake County through late January. All college-bound high
school students and their parents along with current college students are
invited to attend a free workshop.
The
following are upcoming dates: Oct. 6 at Cristo Rey Saint Martin de Porres
College Prep in Waukegan and Oct. 15 at Waukegan High
School-Brookside Campus. View the complete
list of workshop dates.
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The
University Center of Lake County is collaborating with Northern Illinois
University to bring their “Bullying: How Schools Can Respond” conference
to Lake County. The conference will take place simultaneously in DeKalb
and Grayslake from 8 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Oct. 26. The sixth annual conference is
designed to educate administrators, teachers, counselors, and staff about how
they can respond to the issue of bullying in their schools. Learn more
Local and state elected leaders recently joined Walgreens Regional Vice
President Joe Willey to unveil one of three safe medication disposal kiosks in
Lake County. The Walgreens’ Safe Medication Disposal Program in Lake County is
designed to give residents a better method to dispose unused or expired
medications. Watch now |
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Lake County senior citizens are invited to attend Senior Law
Day, an educational forum from 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Park City Branch
Court. Learn about jury duty and elder law from Lake County judges. Join a
discussion on how to avoid criminal scams with the Lake County State’s
Attorney’s Office, and the Sheriff’s Office will address security in your home,
on your computer or in the courthouse. Learn
more
Lake County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor recently took the show on the
railroad. Metra takes passengers on about 750 trains per day along three lines across
Lake County. In this episode of County Update, we talk with a representative of
the Metra Board of Directors who represents Lake County. Watch now |
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Welcome veterans home from Honor Flight
Lake County Honor
Flight is a program that provides transportation and lodging for
World War II and Korean War veterans to visit Washington DC. If you want to
welcome our 17 veterans home from their trip, join the ceremony at 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 9 in North Chicago. Learn more
Join Zombie Nerf Dart Tag
Rally your
two-person team and join the zombie showdown as the Waukegan Park District
holds Zombie Nerf Dart Tag from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 14 at Belvidere Park. Learn more
Save the date! Halloweenfest is coming!
The Waukegan Park
District will hold its Halloweenfest from 3 to 7 p.m. Oct. 29 at Bowen Park.
Held rain or shine, there will be children's games, a juggling show,
storytellers, wagon ride and much more. Volunteers are needed to make this
event a spooktacular success. Call Jen at 847-360-4705 or Julie at 847-360-4762
to learn more.
Waukegan Park District is celebrating a milestone. Join the fun!
Mark your
calendars now. The Waukegan Park District is counting down to its 100th
birthday celebration, which will take place Dec. 26. The celebration will begin
with an open house at the Belvidere Recreation Center and bonfire at Belvidere
Park. Fireworks will begin at 5:30 p.m. Check out the park district’s Facebook page for details.
 If you have any questions or concerns, please call me at 847-721-1563 (cell) or email me at mcunningham@lakecountyil.gov.
I encourage you to forward this update to others who may be interested in Lake County news. Persons who wish to automatically receive these free updates should contact me using the above information or click join our mailing list using the link above.
Thank you,
Mary Ross Cunningham
Ms. Cunningham, County Board member and Forest Preserve Commissioner, serves on:
Lake County Board, 9th District:
Lake County Law and Judicial Committee, Vice Chair
Lake County Health and Community Services
Cultural Diversity (Ad-Hoc), Chair
Lake County Rules Committee, Vice Chair
Ethics Committee
Lake County Forest Preserves, 9th District:
Education, Cultural Resources and Public Affairs- Vice Chair
Rules Committee, Vice Chair
Diversity and Cultural Awareness Committee
Greenbelt Cultural Center Expansion Committee
YCC Advisory Government Council, Chair
Other appointed positions:
National Association of Counties (NACo) Community and Economic Development Committee
Lake County Community Health Center Governing Council, Vice Chair
Lake County Board of Health Personnel Committee, Chair
Community Action Partnership of Lake County, Board Member
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